Beauty News: I'm judging CertClean's Clean Beauty Awards 2020! #cleanbeautyawards

I'm thrilled to announce that I've been asked to be a finalist judge for CertClean's Beauty Awards 2020! For the past couple of weeks, I've been testing out the exciting finalists for the Best Eye Care category and now that I'm in my last week of judging, I thought I would give you a quick glimpse into the products that have been gracing my vanity table.

What Are The Clean Beauty Awards?

The Clean Beauty Awards have been created by CertClean who is North America's leading certification for safer skincare. Although many of the products that I've tested out below fall into typical areas of green, vegan, natural and organic beauty, the general idea behind the awards isn't about how natural or organic a product is, it's about the overall safety of that product instead (in particular, CertClean focuses on products which are free from over 1400+ potentially harmful chemicals).

Where Can I Find Out More?

You can check out CertClean's official website here, and be sure to head on over to the PurPicks website here as well as they are basically like a Tripadvisor review site for nontoxic skincare, and a partner to the Clean Beauty Awards.

Which products have I been judging?

I've been given the very exciting task of judging the finalists for the Best Eye Care category so I've been testing out the following which have all been new-to-me products:-

• Polyn Cooling Under Eye Serum
• Biossance Squalene+ Marine Algae Eye Cream
• Puristy Yerba Mate Eye Cream
• Eco By Sonya Eye Compost
• Sanre Organic Skinfood Eye Candy
• Biossance Squalene+ Peptide Eye Gel
• Lo & Behold White Turmeric & Green Tea Eye Cream

How have I been testing them out?

With just over five weeks of time available to trial seven eye care products, I decided to follow Sali Hughes' expert skincare judging advice and test out two different products at the same time by applying one to each undereye area. I then took notes over the days of using them and switched up the products accordingly - pretty easy! I was quite surprised by some of the differences that I noticed by doing this method as it really drew attention to how my skin responded to the different ingredients and formulas of the products.

When will the winners be announced?

Juding for the finalists ends on 20th March 2020 so I will update my social media to let you know who the winners are when they are announced in due course.

Huge thanks for Cert Clean for asking me to be part of their judging panel for a third year in a row! 

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December Empties: Products I've Used Up

Happy New Year! It made sense to me that the first blog post of 2020 should be an Empties one as I know a lot of people are currently embarking on No Buy and decluttering challenges (myself included), so I hope this helps to provide some additional motivation! Here's everything beauty-wise that I've used up recently and my overall thoughts about whether I'll be repurchasing them again.

Eco By Sonya Coconut & Mint Body Wash*

This massive bottle of body wash lingered in my bathroom for much of 2019 and I loved the unusual coconut and mint scent which was nice and refreshing for an early morning shower. Great SLS-free formula. Repurchase? I have a million other body washes to get through, but it's something that I would happily pick up again in the future.

Bali Balm Sandalwood & Ginger Lip Balm* (featured here)

A gorgeous luxury lip balm with a thick texture and surprisingly delicious flavour - it lasted ages and was perfect to apply before bedtime. Repurchase? I'm currently using up another Bali Balm in a different flavour so keep an eye out for that in a future Empties post.

REN Moroccan Rose Otto Ultra-Moisture Body Oil*

I'm a huge fan of REN's Moroccan Rose Otto range and this body oil was such a pleasure to use. Heavenly scented and with such a rich and nourishing formula, it's hard not to fall in love with this luxury pampering treat! Repurchase? Yes.

Tropic Deep Hydration Soothing Cooling Mask* (reviewed here)

If your skin is in need of some deep hydration, I can't recommend this Tropic face mask enough. I enjoyed using this after a clay mask to put moisture back into my skin, or whenever I felt like it was feeling tight or dry. Lovely cooling effect that just sinks right in. Repurchase? Will do in the future.

Alteya Organics Bulgarian Rosewater*

A simple 100% natural and organic rosewater spritz - I always have a bottle or two on the go as I regularly use it in my daily skincare routine to instantly calm any redness or irritation, as well as being a gentle toner for sensitive skin types. Repurchase? I have others to use first but would buy again.

Bodhi & Birch Nordic White Body Oil* (travel sizes)

Everything from Bodhi & Birch is ultra-luxurious and smells amazing, and this is no exception! I adore this Nordic White fragrance which is a mix of Spruce and Fennel - to my nose, it's very clean, piney, refreshing and spa-like. The Body Oil formula is also simply glorious to use on dry skin. Repurchase? Yes!

Nathalie Bond Himalayan Pink Salts Rose & Patchouli* (travel size)

Although I loved the relaxing scent of these bath salts, they sadly left a sticky residue all around my tub which was very disappointing. Repurchase? No.

a.po.the:ca Rosewater Face Mist* (reviewed here)

Surprise, surprise, another rosewater spritz - told you I liked them! Similar to the Alteya Organics one above, this one is also 100% natural and 96% organic, but it has the addition of Glycerin and Radish Root Ferment which makes it feel more hydrating. Repurchase? Will do once I've used some others up.

Tropic Passion Fruit & Ginger Lily Luxury Bath Foam* (travel size)

Last month, I finished off the Monoi & Orange Flower travel size bath foam from Tropic (post here) and now it's the turn of Passion Fruit & Ginger Lily, an equally beautiful fragrance with a fantastic SLS-free formula that generates lots of bubbles. Repurchase? Definitely.

Mitchell And Peach Flora No.1 Eau De Parfum* (travel size)

I finally emptied a perfume - hooray! OK, it's a travel size but considering how rare it is for me to actually get through a full-size bottle, I'm still counting it as a victory. Flora No.1 is a very sophisticated floral fragrance that really grew on me the more I wore it. Repurchase? I'm on a perfume buying ban at the moment until my stash is decreased, though it's certainly on my future wishlist.

Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair (reviewed here)

An old favourite that I've been using for well over five years now, this easy to use treatment has seriously saved my hair many, many times from too much blow-drying and straightening. I've gone through countless tubes and rest assured that I'll be taking the scissors to this one soon to get out every last drop! Repurchase? Of course.

P.S - Recycle your beauty empties with Terracycle! 

Most of these plastic and glass containers can be recycled through my local council service (blue bin in my area), however, things like the pumps have metal springs in them which are not accepted as they require a different method in order to be recycled. Luckily, Garnier have teamed up with Terracycle to recycle beauty and personal care waste which is deemed difficult to recycle. It's free, all brands are accepted and there are drop off locations all over the UK. Read more here.

What have you used up recently?

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August Empties: Products I've Used Up

Are we really into the first week of September already? Right then, here are my slightly late August Empties!

Eco By Sonya Organic Personal Outdoor Spray* (reviewed here)

I'm one of those people who gets bitten the minute I step foot outside, so I often use an insect repellant when I'm walking the dogs in the woods. This is a really good natural and organic-based product that uses essential oils to deter mozzies and other common biting insects. It's not 100% foolproof but I find that it certainly helps. Repurchase? Yes.

Aveda Beautifying Composition Oil (reviewed here)

A real luxury pampering treat, I absolutely love the scent of Aveda's Beautifying range and their multi-purpose Composition Oils are brilliant - I've been using them for years! I add a few drops to a bath and massage it into my skin afterwards - pure heaven. Repurchase? Yes.

Balm Balm Face Balm* (reviewed here)

Speaking of multi-purpose products, this Face Balm can be used on any dry skin areas and is particularly useful for cuticles, feet and lips. 100% natural and organic, it's fragrance-free so would be well suited for sensitive skin types. Repurchase? I have a lot of similar products to use up first, but I would consider buying it again.

Weleda Creamy Body Washes in Pomegranate and Sea Buckthorn* (reviewed here)

Regular readers will know that I'm a huge fan of these Creamy Body Washes from Weleda and I love both of these scents. Fantastic for dry skin, they're perfect for travel or if you're in a rush as you don't need to follow up with a body moisturiser after showering. Repurchase? Yes.

Walden Castles In The Air Eau De Parfum* (reviewed here)

I finally finished a perfume! This is a lovely fragrance for Spring and Summer as it smells fresh with floral and citrusy notes. The Walden range is completely different to anything that I have in my perfume collection, so if you're quite open-minded about fragrance and want something that's natural, definitely have a look into these. Repurchase? Will do in the future.

Aveda Beautifying Radiance Body Polish (reviewed here)

This salt-based body scrub is from the same Beautifying line as the Composition Oil above so it's no surprise that I finished it at the same time as they are ideal pampering partners! Like the oil, it's very luxurious and leaves my skin feeling wonderfully soft. Repurchase? Definitely as a treat.

Madara Nourish & Repair Shampoo*

Having been a fan of Madara's skincare for such a long time, I decided to try out one of their Shampoos and it did not disappoint. This Nourish & Repair formula is great for dry and damaged hair as it deeply hydrates and helps to strengthen against further breakage and split ends. 99% natural and SLS-free. Repurchase? Yes.

Organyc Organic Cotton Pads* (reviewed here)

I don't use a lot of cotton pads these days, but when I do (for things like removing nail polish), I opt for these ones from Organyc which are made from 100% organic cotton and are biodegradable. They're strong and get the job done. Repurchase? Yes.

Fruu Avocado Lip Balm* (reviewed here)

Finally, I used up a lip balm! I loved this one - it's made from natural and organic ingredients and kept my notoriously dry lips happy and hydrated. The flatter style of packaging is super handy for squeezing into carry-on bags too. Repurchase? I have a million lip balms to use up, but I'm sure I'll come back to this in the future!

What have you used up recently?

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Summer Holidays Edit: Practical Essentials for Festivals & Weekend Trips

With the Summer holidays officially off to a roaring start, make sure to pack some of these practical essentials before you head off on your next weekend away. Let the good times roll!

Always Pack Sunscreen First

I'm sure you don't need another beauty blogger to tell you to slap on the sunscreen before you go outside, but judging by the amount of painfully sunburnt people that I've seen recently, the message is still not getting through to some members of the public (sigh). So don't be an idiot - protect yourself and your family with a good quality sunscreen and reapply it every two hours. One of my faves is Green People Scent Free Sun Lotion SPF 30* (200ml, £22, link) which protects against both UVA and UVB rays, is fragrance-free and suitable for sensitive skin.

Samples Save Loads Of Space

If you're a skincare or beauty fan, chances are you'll already have a stash of samples hiding away at the back of a drawer somewhere. You know the ones - they pop up in beauty boxes, GWPs and are often added to your online orders, but are easily forgotten about. Dig them out and take them with you! You'll save loads of space in your travel bag and have more room for the important stuff like duty-free bottles of booze ;) Don't have any samples? Check out LoveLula's sample selection here. 

The Multi-Purpose Antibacterial Saviour

One holiday essential that I always pack is a multi-purpose wound gel which is basically like a natural first aid assistant in a tube. Comvita Antibacterial Wound Gel* (25g, £9.98, link) can be used on minor burns, cuts, grazes, insect bites and ulcers, as it contains sterilised medical grade Manuka Honey which promotes wound healing and reduces the risk of infection. You can also use it on eczema and scratch wounds to prevent them from getting worse.

Say Farewell To B.O

Keep yourself smelling sweet and fresh all Summer long with a natural deodorant like Native Unearthed Coconut & Vanilla Natural Deodorant Balm* (60ml, £6.99, link). This concentrated formula has a blend of Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Arrowroot and Vanilla to neutralize underarm odour, without blocking your pores with nasty chemicals.

Don't Forget Toothpaste!

It might just be me, but I've lost count of the number of times that I've remembered to pack my toothbrush but forgotten the toothpaste, so take this as your reminder to pack a tube. I'm enjoying using Lavera Basis Sensitiv Toothpaste* (75ml, £4.95, link) which has been specially developed for sensitive teeth and is ultra-gentle, plus it's minty fresh!

Tell Insects To Buzz Off

A lot of mainstream insect repellents contain deet which is an ingredient that some people, especially children and babies, can have allergic reactions to, as well as other undesirable side effects. Eco By Sonya Organic Personal Outdoor Spray* (100ml, £14.04, link) is 100% deet-free and instead is made with only organic and natural ingredients. It utilises the properties of several essential oils such as Citronella, Basil, Lemon and Eucalyptus that have all been proven to repel biting insects, and it smells lovely and fresh which is a pleasant added bonus.

Keep The Conversation Going

Holidays and festivals are often the best times to catch up with friends and family that you haven't seen in a while, so make sure that you keep those conversations going long into the night by packing some soothing throat sweets. These ones from Grether's Pastilles* (110g, £7.49, link) are made to an original recipe that's over 150 years old and features a unique formula which coats your throat with a protective layer, keeping your voice strong and preventing a dry mouth. They're available in a range of flavours, and I can vouch that the Blackcurrant ones pictured above are particularly yummy.

What are your practical travel essentials?

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Tried & Tested: 3 Natural Roll On Deodorants from Dr. Hauschka, Eco by Sonya & Mádara

Natural deodorants, like many things, can be very hit and miss, but the good news for consumers who are wanting to try one is that there's more choice out there than ever before. 

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